Drapery



Feb; 1.0, 1953 M, GORDON 2,627,918

, DRAPERY Filed Dec. 5, 1950 INVENTOR MUHEQ/.s' 5mm/v M H. 6M

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STT S PATENT OFFICE DRAPERY Morris Gordon, New lYork, Y.

Application December 5, 1950; Serial No. 199,217

(ci. moans) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hanging draperies useful particularly for windows.

mAn object of the invention is to provide a readymade valance drapery which is simple to manufacture, requires no skill to hang, and is easily marketable in known channels of trade.

Another object is to provide a simple method of manufacturing finished ready made valance draperies in various lengths of cloth for different sizes of windows, whereby the user can select a suitable drapery en sale in a store, and hang the same quicklyby a simple manipulation.

A further object is to provide a ready-made drapery which can be sold as a rectangular piece of drapery material but which is quick to mount, adjustable over a desired range, and foldable in the same pattern.- by threading together certain eyelets or loops with which the drapery is provided.

Briefly, the invention comprises a valance drapery made from a piece of drapery material, preferably rectangular in shape, by securing thereto eyelets or loops arranged along parallel and preferably equidistant lines running longitudinally of the material, whereby folds or pleats are produced in the vmaterial when the eyelets or loops are threaded together. The eyelets or loops may be positioned along curved lines, preferably parabolic,arranged symmetrically on both sides of a central line extending transversely ofthe length ofthe material. The curved lines bow in toward each other and this central line. Each eyelet or loopy on one curved line nds a correspending eyelet or loop on its opposite curvedline positioned on the same straight line running longitudinally o f the material. The curvature or angle on which the eyelets are positioned will vary with the style and depth ofthe valance de sired. According to one embodiment of the invention, the eyelets are in the form of rings sewed to the material and the two end rings: positioned on one edge of the drapery material are provided with lace or ribbons for enabling the eyelets on the two curved lines to be individually threaded together to create the folds or pleats of the valance. According to another embodiment of the invention. the eyelets are in the form of grommets. one end elementl on each curved line comprising the female part of a snap fastener while the other end element on the same curved line comprises the male part of a snap fastener attached to a shank or shaft adapted to pass through the grommets.

A more detailed description of the invention follows, in conjunction with a drawing, wherein Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a readymade valance drapery in accordance with the invention, spread out to show the arrangement of the eyelets;

2 *Fig. 2 is an elevation view of a window frame providedwith the valance drapery of the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows a. modification of the valance drapery of Fig. 1 wherein the eyelets are in the form of grommets and the end elements are in the form of male and female snap-fastening elements. Only that much of the drapery material is shown in Fig. 3 as is necessary for an understanding of those features which differ from th'ose 'of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, the ready-made valance drapery of Fig. 1 comprises a rectangular` piece of drapery material I0, longer than it is wide, provided on both sides of an imaginary central line I2 with two sets' of eyelets I4 positiened on curved lines symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the linev I2. The drapery material may be made of cloth; for example, satin, silki rayon, or cotton or any woven or other type of material. K l

The curved lines on which the eyelets I4 are positioned are preferably parabolic and may have any suitable angle of curvature depending upon the desired style and depth of the valance. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the eyelets I4 are in the form of rings, metal or plastic, sewed to the drapery material at I 6, as shown. The end rings on one edge of the drapery material are provided with lace or ribbon strings I8 tied thereto.

It should be observed that correspondingly positioned eyelets I4 on th'etwo curved lines appear cn the same straight line. These straight lines` indicated by the imaginary dash lines 20, are preferably equidistant from one another.

The valance drapery of the invention as marketed in the common channels of trade, will appear as shown' in Fig. 1. In order toproduce the pleats or folds in the drapery, the string, lace or ribbon i8 in each bottoni eyelet is inserted through all of the eyelets I4 on the same curved line therewith and then` both ends of the lace I8 tied together, thus giving the effect shown in Fig. 2.

The spacing between ccrrespondingly positioned eyelets on the two curved lines will, of course. vary with the window opening to be bridged by the valance. AIt should be noted that the distance X between the upper two end eyelets of Fig. lV corresponds to the space of the window frame of Fig. 2 to be bridged. The sway or drape portion of the' valance drapery material is designated 22 in both Figs. 1 and 2.

The spacing between the preferably equidistant straight dash lines 2l) running longitudinally of the drapery material can be made to vary in dependence upon the depth of fold desired in the valance. This can be done by suitably positioning the eyelets from one another.

To hang the drapery valance after the eyelets are threaded together, the drape is hung over nails or decorative brackets 24 secured to the window frame F. If desired, a thumb tack can be placed at points T to maintain the position of the drape portion 22 on the window frame.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative method of making the folds or pleats. The eyelets in this figure are in the form of metallic eyelets or grommets I4. At one end of the curved line on which the grommets are positioned, there is placed the female portion 26 of a snap fastener while at the other end of the curved line is the male portion 2-8 of the snap fastener. This male portion is secured to the end of a shank or shaft 30 sewed to the drapery material and of such length (for example, one inch) .as to enable its insertion through all of the grommets lli' and the ciosure of the snap fastening elements 26 and 28. In Fig. 3, the snap fastening elements are sewed to the drapery material as shown at locations somewhat removed from the edges, and on a line forming substantially the center of the folds or pleats produced by threading vthe shank 30 through the grommets. Although Fig. 3

shows only one line of eyelets and fastening elements, it should be understood that another similar line is symmetrically arranged relative thereto in a manner similar to the showing of Fig. 1. The showing of Fig. 3 can be considered as taken along a cross-section through the center of the drapery material. I Y

Some of the advantages of the valance drapery of the invention are: The drapery is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and can be sold in stores in various sizes ready to hang quickly and easily without requiring skill; .the pleats automatically fall into their proper places; and the draperies canbe taken down, opened fiat and cleaned and replaced within a very short space of time.

Iclaim: -A 1. A drapery adapted for use on a window comprising a substantially rectangular piece of material which is longer than it is wide, eyelets secured to said material at spaced points in a curved line extending between the longer sides of said material and appreciablyrremoved from the shorter sides of said material, that portion of the material between said curved line and-the nearest shorter side of said material comprising the drape portion of the drapery adapted to hang down on the side of the window, said eyelets extending from substantially one long side of the material to the oppositely disposed long side of the material, and means for threading said eyeiets together.

2. A Adrapery in accordance with claim 1, wherein said eyelets are spaced equidistant from one another measured between lines parallel to the longer sides of said material.

3. A drapery adapted for use on a window comprising a piece of fabric material which islonger than it is wide, eyelets secured to said material at spaced points on two curved lines extending between the longer sides of said material and appreciably removed from the shorter sides of said material, said curved lines being symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of a center line passing transversely of the length of the fabric, and bowing in toward each other, those portions of the material betweensad curved lines and the respective shorter sides of said material comprising the drape portions ofthe drapery adapted to hang down on the sides of the window below the portion of the drapery between the curved lines and which bridges the window, each eyelet on one curved line having in a straight line therewith parallel to the longer sides of said material a correspondingly positioned eyelet on the other curved line, and means for threading together the eyelets on each curved line.

4. A drapery in accordance with claim 3, wherein said means are strands secured to one long edge of the drapery.

5. A drapery in accordance with claim 3, wherein said eyelets are rings sewed to one side only of the drapery, and said means for threading the eyelets together are strands secured to one long edge of the drapery.

6. A drapery adapted for use on a window comprising a piece of fabric material which is longer than it is wide, eyelets secured to said materia-l at spaced points on two curved substantially parabolic lines extending between the longer sides of said material and appreciably removed from the shorter sides of said material, said curved parabolic lines being symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of a center line passingtrans versely of the length of the fabric and bowing in toward each other, those portions of the material between said curved lines and the respective shorter sides of said material comprising the drape portions of the drapery adapted to hang down on the sides of the window below the portion of the drapery between thev curved lines and which bridges the window, each eyelet on one curved line having in a straight line -therewith parallel to the longer sides of said material a correspondingly positioned eyelet on the other curved line, said parallel lines being equally spaced from one. another and means for threading together the eyelets on each curved line.

'7. A drapery comprising apiece of fabric material which is longer than it is wide, eyelets secured to said fabric intermediate the narrower sides of the material on substantially parabolic lines arranged on opposite sides of a center line passing transversely of the length of the material, said parabolic lines being appreciably re moved from the narrower sides of the material, whereby the portions of fabric between said parabolic lines and said narrower sides will respectively form drape portions adapted to hang down on the sides of the windows, each eyelet on one curved line having in a straight line therewith parallel to the longer sides of said material a correspondingly positioned eyelet on the .other curved line, said parallel lines being equally spaced from one another, and means for threading together the eyelets on each curved line.

8. A drapery in accordance with claim ,3, wherein said curved lines are spaced more closely together at the top edge of the material than at the bottom edge. l

MORRIS GORDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Falkenberg Oct. 15, 1946 

